Storage container lid

ABSTRACT

A storage container lid includes a base portion having at least one through opening and a cover portion including a first panel hingedly attached to a second panel, the cover portion being hingedly attached to the base portion. The first and second panels may be moved independently of one another to access the at least one through opening and wherein the at least one through opening is covered when one of the first and second panels in a closed position.

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE

1. Field of the Disclosure

The disclosure is generally directed to a lid for a storage containerand more specifically, to a lid having more than one access to a storagearea of the storage container.

2. Related Technology

Storage containers are well known in the art. Such containers usuallyinclude a bin portion and a lid portion. The lid portion is generallysecured to the bin portion to prevent contents stored in the bin frombeing ejected during movement of the storage container, or to protectthe contents of the storage container from the environment. Thesestorage containers generally attach the lid to the bin portion in one oftwo ways. One way of attaching the lid to the bin portion is to have thelid receive upper edges of the bin in a snap-fit type configuration.Another way of attaching the lid to the bin portion is to hinge the lidto the bin portion along one edge of the lid and provide a latch alonganother edge of the lid to releasably secure the lid to the bin portion.

Some storage bins have incorporated two-piece lids which allow partialaccess to the items stored in the bin without completely opening thelid. However, the storage container must be placed on a surface beforeopening the lid, fully or partially. Generally no known storagecontainer includes a lid which allows access to the items in the binwhile the container is being carried.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

A storage container lid is described herein and includes a base portionhaving at least one through opening and a cover portion including afirst panel hingedly attached to the base portion. The first panel maybe moved independently of the base portion to access the at least onethrough opening and wherein the at least one through opening is coveredwhen the first panel is in a closed position.

Furthermore, a storage container is described including a bin and a lid,the lid having a base portion including at least one through opening anda cover portion including a first panel hingedly attached to a secondpanel, the cover portion being attached to the base portion. The firstand second panels may be moved independently of one another to accessthe at least one through opening and wherein the at least one throughopening is covered when one of the first and second panels is in aclosed position. The bin has a base panel, a front wall and a back wallextending from the base panel and two side walls extending from the basepanel. A storage space is defined between the front, back and sidewalls. A latch is movably connected to the base portion of the lid, andthe lid is hingedly connected to the bin portion along one side. Thelatch releasably secures the lid to the bin portion and the storagespace is accessible through the at least one through opening when thebase portion of the lid is secured to the bin in a closed position.

Further details of the storage container lid of the present disclosuremay be appreciated with reference to the several views of the drawings,as well as the following detailed description of the preferredembodiments.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a storage container lid and astorage container;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the storage container lid of FIG. 1mounted on a storage container in a closed position;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the storage container lid of FIG. 1mounted on a storage container in an open position; and

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the storage container lid of FIG. 1mounted on a storage container in an alternate open position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1 illustrates a storage container constructed in accordance withthe teachings of the disclosure. The storage container includes a bin 20and a lid 30. The lid 30 includes a base 32 and a cover 34. The cover 34has a first panel 36 and a second panel 38. The first and second panels36, 38 are hingedly attached to one another so that in one position, thefirst and second panels 36, 38 are substantially coplanar. Furthermore,the lid 30 includes a handle 40 and a latch 42. The handle 40 mayinclude two attachment pieces 44 and a tubular connector piece 46.

The base 32 includes one or more openings 48, 50 therein. The openings48, 50 may be through openings 48, i.e. openings permitting accessthrough the lid, such as to a main compartment of the storage containeror tray openings 50, i.e. openings permitting access to asub-compartment or tray within the lid 30. A skirt 52 extends from aperimeter of the base 32. The skirt 52 includes an arch 54 formed in oneside thereof. The arch 54 partially receives and shields the latch 42.

The first cover panel 36 includes a cover skirt 56 on either side of arecessed edge 58. The recessed edge 58 receives an upper portion of thearch 54 while the cover skirt 56 cooperates with a top portion of thebase 32 when the first cover panel 36 is in a closed position. Thesecond cover panel 38 is attached to the first cover panel 36 along oneside thereof via a hinge 60. The second cover panel 38 is sized tocooperate with the tray opening 50 in the base 32. The second coverpanel 38 substantially covers the tray opening 50 in a closed position.The first and second cover panels 36, 38 are pivotably attached to thebase 32 along a center support beam 62. The first and second coverpanels 36, 38 may be opened or closed independently of one another.Additionally, the first and second cover panels 36, 38 may be openedwhile the lid 30 is in a closed and secured position on the bin 20. Thebase panel 32 may include only one through opening 48 and one coverpanel 36 if desired.

The handle 40 includes two attachment members 44 and a tubular connectormember 46. The attachment members 44 are generally “C” shaped,connecting to the tubular connector member 46 at one end and connectingto the base 32 of the lid 30 at another end. The attachment members 44may cooperate with any length of tubular connector member 46 therebycreating the ability to produce different sized handles 40 solely bychanging the length of the tubular connector member 46.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the lid 30 of FIG. 1 in a closed andsecured position on the bin 20. In this closed position, the lid 30covers and protects the storage space of the bin 20. Further, the latch42 secures the lid 30 in place. Additionally, both the first and secondlid openings 48, 50 are covered by the first and second cover panels 36,38 respectively.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the lid 30 of FIG. 1 in an open positionon the bin 20. In this open position, the lid 30 is hinged to the bin 20along an edge opposite the latch 42 and the latch 42 is released fromthe bin 20. The lid 30 is generally angled relative to the base panel ofthe bin 20, exposing the storage space of the bin 20. Furthermore, thefirst and second openings 48, 50 are covered and secured by the firstand second panels 36, 38.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the lid 30 of FIG. 1 in a closedposition, but having the first and second panels 36, 38 in openpositions, thus exposing the storage space of the bin 20 through thefirst lid opening 48 and exposing the tray storage space through thesecond lid opening 50. While both the first and second panels 36, 38 areshown open in the figure, either panel could be opened independently ofthe other. This alternate lid closed position allows a user to accessthe storage space of the bin 20 or the tray storage space while the lid30 is in a closed position. In other words, a user may access the binstorage space through the first lid opening 48 while the storagecontainer is supported by the handle 40.

While the disclosed embodiments are generally manufactured from moldedplastic, the storage container can, alternatively, be constructed fromvirtually any suitable material. For example, the storage container maybe constructed from polystyrene, polypropylene, polycarbonate,engineering grade plastic, ABS, TPE, thermoplastics, metal, wood,organic materials, leather, glass and or combination thereof.

Although certain storage containers have been described herein inaccordance with the teachings of the present disclosure, the scope ofthe appended claims is not limited thereto. On the contrary, the claimscover all embodiments of the teachings of this disclosure that fairlyfall within the scope of permissible equivalents.

1. A storage container lid comprising: a base portion having at leastone through opening; and a cover portion including a first panelhingedly attached to the base portion; wherein the first panel may bemoved independently of the base portion to access the at least onethrough opening and wherein the at least one through opening is coveredwhen the first panel is in a closed position.
 2. The storage containerlid of claim 1, further including a handle attached to the base.
 3. Thestorage container lid of claim 2, wherein the handle comprises twoattachment segments and a tubular connector segment.
 4. The storagecontainer lid of claim 2, wherein the base includes a shelf along aportion of a perimeter of the base and wherein the handle is received bythe shelf when the handle is not in use.
 5. The storage container lid ofclaim 1, wherein the base portion includes a second opening and thefirst panel is hingedly attached to a second panel and both the firstand second panels are hingedly attached to the base portion.
 6. Thestorage container lid of claim 5, wherein the first and second panelsare movable for accessing the at least one through opening when thestorage container lid is supported solely by the handle.
 7. The storagecontainer lid of claim 5, wherein at least one of the first and secondpanels is translucent.
 8. The storage container lid of claim 5, whereinthe base includes a tray portion.
 9. The storage container lid of claim8, wherein the first panel covers the at least one through opening andthe second panel covers the tray portion.
 10. A storage containercomprising: a lid comprising: a base portion having at least one throughopening; a cover portion including a first panel hingedly attached tothe base portion; wherein the first panel may be moved independently ofthe base portion to permit access to the at least one through openingand wherein the at least one through opening is covered when the firstpanel is in a closed position; a storage bin comprising; a base panel; afront wall and a back wall extending from the base panel; two side wallsextending from the base panel; and a storage space defined between thefront, back and side walls; a latch movably connected to the baseportion of the lid; wherein the lid is hingedly connected to the storagebin and the latch releasably secures the lid to the storage bin andwherein the storage space is accessible through the at least one throughopening when the lid is secured to the storage bin in a closed position.11. The storage container of claim 10, including a handle disposed onthe lid.
 12. The storage container of claim 1 1, wherein the baseportion includes a second opening and the first panel is hingedlyattached to a second panel and both the first and second panels arehingedly attached to the base portion.
 13. The storage container ofclaim 12, wherein the at least one of the first and second panels ismovable when the storage container is supported solely by the handle.14. The storage container of claim 12, wherein the base portion of thelid includes a tray portion.
 15. The storage container of claim 13,wherein the first panel covers the at least one through opening and thesecond panel covers the tray portion.
 16. The storage container of claim15, wherein one of the storage space and the tray portion are accessiblewhen the storage container is supported solely by the handle.